There are few things better in life than a good book.
One thing better is a good southern book.
Cause we all know I’m slightly partial to the south.
These, in my humble, 100% un-expert, but truly southern opinion are the best southern books – the keepers. Some are fiction, some are non-fiction. Some will pull at your heartstrings and some will have you rolling in the floor. Some are about scraping by to make ends meet and some are about witches and ghosts and all things weird.
Would you expect any less from me?
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The Best Southern Books
1. Anything by Rick Bragg
All Over But the Shoutin’ / Ava’s Man / The Prince of Frogtown / The Most They Ever Had
Hands down, Rick Bragg is my favorite author. Start with All Over But the Shoutin’ – his tale of growing up poor in Alabama and how much his mama sacrificed for him and his brothers. Its raw and honest and an amazing memoir. He also has a new one coming out – My Southern Journey – and you’d better believe my copy is already pre-ordered. He writes a column in Southern Living every month as well. I have saved every single one of his columns from the magazine – they are so good.
2. Natchez Burning & The Bone Tree
Natchez Burning / The Bone Tree
Every time we go to the beach, it never fails that I spend at least three or four nights up until the wee hours of the morning reading a Greg Iles book. Once you start one of his books, you cannot put it down. His latests ones, Natchez Burning and its sequel, The Bone Tree are unbelievable. They are set in present day Natchez, Mississippi, but everything that’s happening are results of events that happened during the civil rights era. Both are full of unforgettable twists.
3. The Last Madam
As you may remember from my story about visiting a whorehouse, things that most people find weird or scary fascinate me – and I love all things New Orleans. The Last Madam (non-fiction) is a book about just that – the last madam of New Orleans. It is a captivating tale of debauchery. I’ve re-read the book now at least three times. Its that good.
4. The Eden Moore Series
Four and Twenty Blackbirds / Wings to the Kingdom / Not Flesh Nor Feathers
Now, I’m quite partial to these because they are all set in Chattanooga, where I call home. They are all fiction, but the cool thing about the Eden Moore series is that they are based around real ghost stories and historical events here in Chattanooga. Cherie Priest did a spectacular job of creating stories around real events. These are books I’ve read over and over again as well. Start with Four and Twenty Blackbirds to get to know Eden Moore and the three ghosts that protect her. Continue with Wings to the Kingdom and then Not Flesh Nor Feathers. Then, let’s all beg Cherie Priest to write another one in the series because you’re gonna be hooked.
5. The Mayfair Witches Series
While Anne Rice might be most well-known for her vampire books, my personal favorites of hers are The Mayfair Witch books. I’m quite sure they were the first books that I read which were based in New Orleans, so of course I was hooked immediately. The series is centered around a family of witches in New Orleans that is haunted by an unknown being. Start with The Witching Hour, followed by Lasher, and finally Taltos. If you love tales of witches or New Orleans, you’ll love these.
6. The Help
Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past few years, you’ve heard about The Help. You probably even watched the movie. But did you read the book? Because if you didn’t, you need to. The Help is set in Mississippi during the Civil Rights era and man, is it a powerful book. It will make you laugh out loud and cry at the same time.
7. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
New Orleans is my favorite city, but Savannah is a close second. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is set in Savannah and you may have seen the movie for this one too, but the book is worth a read as well. There are mansions and voodoo and crime all rolled into this one.
8. The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
If there were ever a group of girls you wanted to be friends with, its the Ya-Yas. This is a tale of strong, true southern women at both their finest and weakest moments.
Ok. Your turn.
What are your favorite southern books?
***Update! Read Round Two of my favorite southern book picks here!***
More Favorite Southern Books
And you might also want to read about two of the best cities in the South…
You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.
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Brigitte says
I’ll love you forever. You included one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS, (and movies!), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil! HAIL! 🙂 I’m adding these others to my never-ending list of books to read. I’m going to have to live to be 150….at least.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
hahaha! Me too – there’s always another book to read! And yes, Brigitte – Midnight is an amazing tale! Love, love, love it!
Shirley says
I’ve just read The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (who also wrote The Secret Life of Bees). It was set in Georgia & tells the tale of a young slave , her mother & her owner & sister. The two sisters went on to preach against slavery & were shunned by their family & town. In the notes it said it was based on a true story. The sisters must have been very brave in their day. It was a book I will never forget and couldn’t put down.
Jenna thanks for your recommendations & advising which Rick Bragg book to read first. I was going to ask you !
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Wow, Shirley. That sounds like quite a story. I’ll have to look for it – thanks for telling me! Oh honey, you will love Rick Bragg!! At least I hope you do- I just think he’s amazing!
kimberly walsh says
Have you ever read any of Mary Kay Andrews books? I love her, she always sets her stories in the south and there is lots of furniture/house diy involved. I love The Fixer Upper, and Savannah Blues although all of hers are great, she definitely sucks you in!
The other author that popped rigth into my mind reading this post is Beth Hoffman, she wrote Saving CeCe Honeycutt (great but expect tears) and Looking For Me, also a great book, and has furniture in it, always a plus!!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I am adding those to my list, Kimberly! Thanks!
Debbie says
Thank you for this list! There is nothing like an engrossing southern novel. I’ve read about half of these, I will start of the rest of them now. I’ve always thought the Mayfair Witches series was Ann Rice’s best work.
In my opinion, no list of southern novels can be complete without To Kill Mockingbird. It’s been my favorite book since I read it for high school English, and it never, ever grows stale. Scout and Jem and Boo Radley–simply the best characters ever.
These two don’t fall into the southern genre, but are wonderful, character driven stories, the way most good southern novels are.
The first one is The Book Thief. The story is narrated by Death, who is a character. That should be creepy enough to get you going. It’s a wonderful story and was also made into an excellent movie.
The other is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It takes place on the isle of Guernsey which is an English island between France and England. It was occupied by the Nazis during the war. This is the story of their people, who didn’t get so much so much as newspaper during the entire occupation and had no idea what was happening in the world. They could see the bombers going back and forth overhead, but didn’t know who was winning the war.
Thanks again for the list. Please update it when you find some worthy additions.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I couldn’t agree more, Debbie – nothing like a good, engrossing southern novel! And yes, you are right – To Kill a Mockingbird is definitely a wonderful one! I haven’t read those others you mentioned, but will check them out for sure. I’m also glad that someone else agrees with me about Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches -my favorite of hers by far!
Debra says
I’ve read a few of these and the rest just got added to my reading list. My all time favorite author is Pat Conroy. Oh how he strings a sentence together. Happy Reading.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Oooo, haven’t read him before, Debra! I’m headed to scope some of his out right now! Thanks!
Theresa says
I grew up in Ohio, but have lived most of my life in Georgia. It kind of surprises me at times, but my favorite authors are southern. I also love anything by Rick Bragg…Oral History and Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith, Beach Music by Pat Conroy, Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, anything by Deborah Smith, and I’ve just discovered Karen White.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I haven’t heard of all of those, Theresa! Thanks for the suggestions!
Tammy says
Get Karen White’s Trade Street series on audio if you can! Great southern voices and ghosts everywhere!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
No way!! Girl, I am on it!
Ariel says
So many good Southern writers to choose from! Here are some contemporary mystery novelists: James Lee Burke. Margaret Maron. Charlaine Harris. Don’t forget the classics! Eudora Welty & Flannery O’Connor.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Awesome, Ariel! Thanks!
Tammy says
Handling Sin, which I think you’d love because it is hysterical and also perfectly Southern, and the Sweet Potato Queens… not so much books about the South per se, but written by a Southern Woman about crazy Southern Woman kinds of things, most of which are not fit for polite company.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Girl, I’m adding Handling Sin to my Amazon cart! Thanks! I’ve already read Sweet Potato Queens before – SO funny!!
Jana Vaughan says
Mine would have to be Steel Magnolias. I love love love this book. The movie was awesome too!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Oh, Jana! LOVE that one – such a good one!
Beth says
Thanks Jenna! I think Natchez Burning & The Bone Tree are books my daughter may like as she will be learning more about the civil war in school this year. I am always looking for new books to read (although I wish I had more time to read!) If you ever want to read about other parts of the country, read Elin Hilderbrand. She writes romance stories sent in Nantucket MA. Its a beautiful island here off the coast of Cape Cod. They are quick reads. Happy Fall!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I will look into that one, Beth! Hadn’t heard of her! I do read other books besides southern ones – southern ones just tend to be my favorite. Also, I should say that Natchez Burning and The Bone Tree have some very adult scenes. That’s the best way I can describe it. Totally not saying your daughter shouldn’t read them (I would let mine read it in high school as long as she was mature enough), but you might want to read it first. Just a heads up!
Beth says
OH, thanks for letting know about the content of the books, she is going into 7th. She is mature for her age, but maybe a tad bit too young still for these books. Myself on the other hand, that’s a different story! Looking forward to reading them!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Yep, probably a little too old for her! Glad I told you!
Emily from My Mom Made That says
I like a lot of your picks, and I’m interested in reading a few of them. What about Pat Conroy? I also Iike Mary Kay Andrews! She’s a fun, beachy Southern read!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
A few people have said Pat Conroy and Mary Kay Andrews! I’ve definitely got to check both of them out!
Sheri says
Jenna – what a great list! I’ve read almost all of them, however I will say that out of these the the trilogy of the Mayfair Witches is by far my favorite. I have those books and re-read them every few years. I stumbled on the first one right after it was published and I was hooked! But now I’m going to have to go and check out The Last Madam. I love all things New Orleans!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I re-read the Mayfair witches all the time too, Sheri! I just love it! Yes – you must read The Last Madam!! Its wonderful!
Tina says
Try anything by William Gay, William C. Harris, Jr. and my all time favorite from Birmingham, Robert McCammon. I also just got through with a book called Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen that took place in Georgia. Great stuff!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Awesome, Tina! Thanks for the suggestions!
Sarah Fuller says
Greg Iles books are so hard to put down once you get started reading.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Oh my goodness – YES!!
rosie says
Just want to chime in on Greg Iles. I think my favorite is The Devils Punch Bowl…could not put it down.
I am looking forward to reading Rick Bragg. Sounds like one that will be in my hands for a few hours…
Is The Last Madam a biography? Not into those types of books, but love a good story.
I am hooked on anything in the WWll era, regarding the concentration camps.
Nice to read this list, thanks, going to pass it on to a friend who is looking for new authors.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I have The Devils Punch Bowl, but haven’t read it yet. I actually started, but then figured I’d better start with the first of his Penn Cage books before reading that one. You will love Rick Bragg!! The Last Madam is a biography, but it doesn’t read like that at all – more like a story.
Janice says
Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson, and her other books.
Emily @ The Benson Street says
I can’t wait to ready some of these. I loved The Help and am sure I will love some of these others. Thanks for stopping by and linking up at the Monday Funday Party!
Jeanie says
Karen White is one of my favorite authors. All of her books are set in the South–most in South Carolina. Another author I enjoy is Susan Boyer. She writes mysteries set in the South. The last author I would recommend is Laura Childs. She has a couple of series. The Scrap Booking mysteries are set in New Orleans and the Tea Shop Mysteries are set In Charleston.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks so much for the recommendations, Jeanie! I haven’t read any of those, so I will be sure to check them out!!
Lynne McConnell says
Keep Reading Pat Conroy – especially Prince of Tides. His personal problems are written about in several of his books. But, of my, can that man write. One of Rick Bragg’s favorite authors. Anything by Joshilyn Jackson is great. Kathleen Grissom wrote The Kitchen House and it has a sequel. Edward Kelsey Moore wrote The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues…don’t you just love that title. And it, too, has a sequel.
Julie Anne says
Jenna, love your list!!
about book “The Witching Hour”
This novel evokes an exotic, heat drenched vision of old and new New Orleans. Rice is a masterful writer, and the novel just flows like spun silk. The myriad characters that make up the Mayfair line are beautifully drawn. And the power that they have is well illustrated to be truly double edged. If you want a long evocative, engaging and beautifully written novel, this is it. My only complaint is the ending which I found somewhat rushed and unsatisfying
Recommended.
Julie
Jenna says
Love that description, Julie and couldn’t agree more! It’s one of my all-time faves!